OECD Watch's Remedy Campaign

OECD Watch has launched a campaign to improve the effectiveness of national contact points (NCPs) of the OECD so that the NCP system can provide access to remedy for victims of business related human right violations. All governments that adhere to the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises have made a binding commitment to establish effective NCPs. We ask these governments now to honour their commitments.

The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are an key instrument to to promote responsible business conduct of companies and contain a state-based non-judicial grievance mechanism to help hold companies to resolve disputes for companies’ that are not complying with the Guidelines, while facilitating access to remedy for victims of corporate abuse.

What is the problem?

Complaints against companies on business related abuses filed with NCPs rarely result in remedy for victims. In order for the OECD Guidelines to remain a relevant tool for governing today’s global economy and ensuring that the NCP system is credible, immediate action is needed by adhering countries to strengthen the effectiveness of their NCPs.

People from the Indian region Odisha filed a complaint against the company POSCO and its financiers for failing to meaningfully consult them on plans to build a steel plant and mine with huge environment and social consequences.

NCPs have the potential to be the state-based non-judicial grievance mechanism called for in the UN Guiding Principles in Business and Human Rights.

Governments, honour your commitments!

Although governments are free to set up NCP's in different ways, four criteria must be met with the objective of ensuring functional equivalence: visibility, accessibility, transparency and accountability. Also NCPs must respect four principles when handling complaints:impartiality, predictability, equitability and compatibility. We ask government to honour these commitments with the Guidelines.

The campaign

OECD Watch’s new campaign will be marked with nearly a dozen national level campaigns by its members aimed at getting policy-makers to take the necessary steps to ensure that their NCPs meet the obligations laid out in the Guidelines’ Procedural Guidance. The campaign also aims at getting policy-makers to acknowledge that remedy is the reason for NCPs, so that NCPs are equipped with the necessary political will to carry out determinations of a company’s non-compliance with the Guidelines and help facilitate access to remedy.